Page 32 - BN1 July-Aug 2019 web

Credit © James Pike

PRIDE

CREATES

SUSTAINABLE

FUTURE

Pier 2 pier, Beach Clean,
BHCC, Brighton and Hove
BY NADIA ABBAS

Brighton Pride has become an iconic celebration of the Another part of this plan is to replace plastic water bottles
LGBTQ community, arguably the largest Pride event in the with “Aquapax cartons” which are a greener alternative.
UK. It attracts thousands of people each year, who travel This is another good strategy, as typically Pride falls at
far and wide to witness this colourful mirage of diverse the beginning of August during a heatwave, so water
performers, exotic food stalls, and musical extravaganzas consumption is at a high, with people throwing their empty
for one scorchingly hot summer’s day. However, after the bottles anywhere during the event. However, now that they
banners and decorations have been cleared, the music plan to use a biodegradable alternative, the effects won’t
has stopped, and the people have left and gone back be as damaging. They are also planning on providing
home, Brighton is often left looking like a dumping ground more water fountains in and around Preston Park for
for glitter, plastic and rubbish. This is the reality of holding people to use, as well providing canned drinks at bars
such a large sprawling event across the city. After the fun and restaurants. This new movement of sustainability will
and excitement is over there is a large amount of waste hopefully improve Brighton’s post-festival condition, as
left, including plastic cups and food waste. There is also well as inspiring other local festivals and events to adopt
a problem with carbon emissions, due to an increase in a greener approach.
vehicles on the city streets.
However, the public can also play a part in helping
This is why Brighton Pride organisers are working with a Brighton achieve a greener future. This is because people
sustainability expert on “a three-year plan that will work and businesses create waste every day, not just on
on improving these factors, and help make a cleaner, the Pride weekend. So, if we can encourage people to
greener Pride for all of us.“ They’re encouraging people change their mindset and dispose of waste in the right
and businesses coming to Pride to dispose of waste places, recycle and use reusable cups, it will have an
sensibly, by using the bins available around the city to enormous positive impact on our environment. Hopefully
help maintain a clean and green enviroment for both this can become a new green lifestyle for all of us. People
residents and visitors. This plan will address these issues, can also get involved on a larger scale by signing up to
aiming to reduce the event’s impact. the City Angels programme to help share benefit and
responsibility with local restaurants and hotels who work
One of their proposed schemes includes a “reusable cup together to improve our surroundings.
scheme at Preston Park and Pride Pleasure Gardens sites.”
They believe “this will reduce up to 30% of the volume of Brighton & Hove Pride also works with other organisations,
waste that has historically gone to incineration.” This is an such as Pier to Pier and Oceans 8 Brighton, who host
all-day event, where people are constantly buying drinks monthly beach cleans to remove the waste from our
and food from the stalls or bars, so waste generated oceans and will be hosting a huge beach clean event on
from plastic cutlery and cups piles up at an exponential the Sunday. Locals and visitors alike are encouraged to
rate. Specifically targeting plastic consumption by giving attend and help, as well as meet other like-minded people
people a sustainable option doesn’t detract from the who care for the environment. Through these initiatives we
liveliness and celebratory spirit of the event. can guarantee a greener future for Pride, and hopefully
the city of Brighton & Hove.
32 bn1magazine.co.uk